Illuminating sign for gasoline pumps



Feb; 9 1926.

D. w. HUSTON I ILLUMINATING SIGN FOR GASOLINE PUMPS I Original FiledFeb. 15. 1924 I /Ma/9 171-61 Patented Feb. 9, 192% uNiTso STATES y c nPATENT DWIGHT W. HUSTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WAYNE TANK &PUMP COMPANY, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

ILLUMINATING SIGN FOR GASOLINE PUMPS.

Application filed February 15, 1924,'Serial No. 693,043. RenewedDecember 6, 1924.

To allwlwm it may concern:

Be it known that DWIGHT W. Husaon, a

. citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, hasinvented new and useful Improvements in Illuminatin Si us for GasolinePumps, of which the fo lowing isa specification.

The purpose of the present invention is to upon both faces of the'signplate or panel, rendering the signs. brilliantly illuminated.

Another purpose is to provide an electric lamp at the base of the casingwhere it con nects to the top of the'gasoline pump, the sign plate orpanel being mounted in the casing in order to bisect the light rayswhich are reflected by the walls of the casing toward and upon theopposite faces of the sign plate or panel, hence more brilliantlydisplaying the signs.

Still anothen purpose is to provide a casing with opposed parts, theadjacent edges of which are interlocked and provided with means forholding the marginal edge of the sign plate or panel in positionintermediate the remote edges of the opposed parts, which parts havetheir walls converged from the opposite faces of the plate or panel,whereby the light rays from the single lamp at the lower edge of theplate or panel are reflected toward and upon theopposite faces of theplate or panel. t

A further purpose is the provision of reflectors struck up from oppositesides of the base of the casing for the purpose of reflect ing thelightrays from the single lamp outwardly and downwardly exteriorly ofthe casing. and upon the gauges, etc., of the gasoline pump, therebybrilliantly illuminating these parts in order to facilitate the0perators attention to the pump.

It is to be understood that the articulars herein given are in no waylimitative and that, while still keeping within the scope of theinvention, any desired modifications of detail and desired proportionsniay be made in the apparatus according to the circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combinations-of parts to behereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa view in perspective of the improved illuminating signconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same on line 2-2 ofFigure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of. a portion of thecasing showing the manner of holding the sign panel or plate between thetwo parts of the casing.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through a modified form of illuminatingsign for gasoline pumps.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the base or pedestal of thecasing whigh is of conical contour and 2 designates the upper circularpart of the casing. The base or pedestal fits in any suitable manner, asat 3, on the top of the casing of a gasoline pump. The top of thegasoline pump is equipped with a suitable fixture 4 provided with asocket (not shown) for the reception of a single electric lamp or bulb5.

The upper circular portion of the casing is formed in two partsconstituting reflector rims and, as shown, these rims converge inopposite directions from opposite sides of a sign plate or panel 6. Theadjacent edges of the two rims 7 and 8 of the casing are provided withinterlocking connections, such as a flange 9 on the edge of the rim 8and an overhanging flange 10 on the part 7. The overhanging flange iscircular in cross section and overlies the flange 9. Due to the flange10 being circular, achannel 11 is formed for the reception of themarginal edge of the plate or panel 6, thereby supporting the plate orpanel securely in position.

The casing may be constructed of any suitable metal, preferably sheetmetal of relatively. heavy gauge, while the sign plate or panel may beconstructed of similar material, although other material may beused, forinstance, such as glass or the like.

It is the purpose to applysigns upon opposite faces of the plate orpanel 6, such as the word Gasoline. Any type of lettering may be used inapplying the sign. The lettering may be in white with a dark back groundso that the letters of the sign are clearly visible and very brilliantdue-to the light rays being reflected thereon. flowever, it is obviousthat a heavy dark lettering may be employed with a light. background. Itis also obvious that the signs may be applied in any other way.

The rims 7 and 8 of the casing are converged for the purpose ofrefiectingthe light rays, as indicated by dotted lines, toward and uponthe opposite faces of the plate or panel. In order to reflect brilliantlight rays and to render the signs bright, it is the purpose toconstruct the opposed "parts of the casing of relatively heavy sheetmetal finished throughout with porcelain enamel, preferably white. i

Opposed parts of the base or pedestal of the casing are provided withstruck up reflectors 12 which are inclined outwardly and downwardly andtheir inner faces are likewise enameled white for the purpose ofreflecting the light rays from the single lamp in opposite directionsdownwardly and exteriorly of the base or pedestal and toward and uponthe various gauges, etc., of the gasoline pump, thus rendering theseparts more visible to the operator at night.

As shown in Figure 4, it is obvious that the remote edges of the toprims of the easing may support glass panels or covers 1d for the purposeof protecting the sign as well as protecting the lamp in the base orpedestal of the casing. In order to hold the glass panels or covers inplace, the remote edges have channelsfltl.

An illuminating sign of this character is practically indestructible andpresents a nice appearance and brilliant at night, diffusing suflicientlight rays td illuminate the surroundings as well as rendering the signson both faces of the panel or plate clearly visible.

Heretofore there have been devised illumina ing means having upwardlycurving surfaces which catch the direct rays from thelight but in thisconstruction there is no reflection. It will be noted that the presentinvention specifies a flat surface provided with signs on both sideswhich are illuminated by reflection of the light rays from a single lampthrough the medium of a reflector-retainer clement consisting of the tworims 7 and S disposed at angles. The present invention does not claim adirect illumination from the lamp upon the surface to be made brighterbut it is the aim to provide an evenly illuminated sign by the use ofthe particular character of retlcctor rim.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. {in illuminating gasoline pump sign comprising a pedestal adapted forattachment on the top of a gasoline pump, a'circular casing rising fromthe pedestal and provided with :rconcentrically located sign imaoiepanel, the walls of the casing converging toward remote ends of the axisthrough the center of the. panel and provided withinncr brilliantsurfaces for reflecting light rays toward and upon the opposite faces ofthe panel which are provided with signs, and illuminating means in thepedestal, the light rays from which are bisected by the sign panel.

2. An illuminating sign including a pedestal with a single electric lampthere in and adapted for attachment to the top.

of a gasoline pump, a circular casing rising from the pedestal, and asign panel supported in the casing substantially midway the remote edgesthereof and bisecting the light rays, the wall of the casing convergingfrom'the opposite sides of the sign. panel to "aid the remote ends of anaxis passing through the center of the panel, whereby the inner surfaceof the casing may reflect the light rays'from the single lamp toward andupon the opposite faces of the panel.

3. An illuminating sign including a pedestal with a single electric lamptherein, a circular casing rising from the pedestal. a sign panelsupported concentrically within the casing at a position substantiallymidway the remote edges of the casing, and means for supporting the signpanel in said position. the inner surface of the casing beingbrilliantly covered and converging from opposite sides of the paneltoward re mote ends of an axis through the center of the panel, therebyreflecting the light rays from the single lamp toward and upon theopposite faces of the panel.

4. An illuminating sign for gasoline pumps comprising a pedestal with asingle electric lamp therein, a sign panel rising from the pedestalprovided with signs upon opposite faces thereof, and means forreflecting the light rays upon the opposite faces of the panel. the baseof the pedestal having opposite downwardly and outwardly disposedreflectors for reflecting the light rays upon. various parts of thegasoline pump.

An illuminating sign for gasoline pumps comprising a pedestal includinga single electric lamp therein, a sign panel rising from the pedestaland provided with signs upon the opposite faces thereof, and a casing011 the pedestal, said casing comprising opposed parts provided withintcr engaging clincher fiangcs on their adjacent edges,o1ie of saidclincher flanges having a channel for the reception of the other flangeand forthe reception of the marginal edge of the sign panel. therebyholding the panel securely in position.

6. An attachment for a gasoline pump comprising two conical r-imsections joined together at their bases and whose inner surfaces arereflectors, a sign panel'mount ed between said sections, a edesta'lconnecting said rim sections wit the top of the pump,- illuminatingmeans positioned within said attachment and below said sign panel, sothat a part of its rays are directed to all sides of the si 11, andother reflectors adjacent said illumma'ting, means and so positioned asto direct other ra s of said illuminating means to portions 0 the pumpon which said attachment is mounted.

7. An attachment 'for a gasoline um'p comprising a member conslsting 0.two conical rim sections whose inner surfaces are reflectors joined attheir bases with a sign panelj secured between said sections and a base,the Whole of said member adapted to "be mounted through its base tothetop of a pump, an illuminating 7 element so mounted within said memberas to cast part of-its rays against the inner surfaces of said conicalrim sectionsso as to be reflected" therefrom onto all "parts of bothsides of said sign panel, and other reflectors so mounted as to directother rays of said illuminating element toward portions of said pump.

8; An attachment for a gasoline pump comprising a casing formed of twoconical rim elements whose inner surfaces are re-' tune,

flectors secured together attheir bases and having ia-base by which saidcasing is attached to the pump, a sign panel secured between mid rimelements within said casing,'an illuminatin element mounted within saidcasing an so positioned that upvwardly projected rays therefrom willilluminate bothsides of said sign panel, and other reflectors adapted todirect other rays toward the pump on .which said attachment is mounted.i

9. An attachment for a gasoline pump comprising a casing formed of twoconical rim elements Whose inner surfacesjare reflectors securedtogether at their 'bases and having a base by which said casing isattached to the pump, a signpanel mounted concentrically of said rimelements, an

illuminating element within said casing so positioned'as to direct aortion of its rays upon theinnei' surfaces 0 said conical rims andthence upon both sides of said sign panel and other reflectors struckfrom said casing and positioned adjacent said illuminating element andada ted to direct part of the rays thereof to t 'e pumpv on which saidattachment ismounted.

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signa- DWIGHT w.v HUSTON.

